Treasures of Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran - 9 Days

After arriving to Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) our representative will greet you in the airport then you’ll be transferring to your hotel in Tehran. your tour guide will be there in your hotel to greet you, then you’ll have a short meeting with your tour guide so he/she briefing about your trip and further arrangements for the next day.

We’ll be traveling to shiraz by night train, this train departs from Tehran at 18:40 and will be arriving to Shiraz 9:25 the next day, you are going to have a private cabin ( coupe) on this train for duration of your trip to shiraz. Just after our arrival to Shiraz another transport will pick up us from Shiraz train station station. We’ll be going to Vakil Complex directly. Vakil Complex contains a big Bazaar, a Bathhouse and a mosque. Each one of these monuments are a unique masterpieces of architecture and art. Vakil Bazaar is without a doubt one of the most beautiful bazaars of Iran. After visiting Vakil bazaar we’ll visit Vakil bathhouse, Vakil bath house is one the unique bath houses in Iran witch kept maintained for visitors. The bath house together with the Bazaar built under the order of Karim Khan Zand (1705-1779) founder of Zand dynasty. after visiting Vakil complex we’ll visit Karim Khan castle a few meters away from Vakil Bazaar. castle is also ordered by Karim Khan Zand as a palace for himself. Karim Khan Zand brought many architects and skilled workers from all around Iran to make his castle as beautiful as possible. For the evening we’ll visit Tomb of Hafez. Hafez (or Hafiz) is a Persian poet living between 1315-1390 who lauded the joy of love and wine but also targeted religious hypocrisy as well. Without a doubt Hafez is the greatest Persian poet ever lived. Tomb of Hafez is including an open pavilion and memorial and beautiful garden. Tomb of Hafez designed by the French architects and archeologist André Godard in 1935

Today we are going to see two of the most beautiful places of Shiraz, first we are going to see Nasir-ol-molk Mosque in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Shiraz. Nasir-ol-molk Mosque built during Qajar period between 1875 to 1888, Nasir-ol-molk Mosque is considered to be one of the most valuable mosques in Iran. The architecture of the mosque in terms of Muqarnas, Glass Works, Tile works and Calligraphy are pretty much unique in whole country. After visiting the Nasir-ol-molk Mosque, we will visit Shāh Chérāgh holy shrine. Shāh Chérāgh is a funerary monument and mosque in Shiraz, housing the tomb of the brothers Ahmad and Muhammad, sons of Mūsā al-Kādhim and brothers of ‘Alī ar-Ridhā. The two took refuge in the city during the Abbasid persecution of Shia Muslims. So while visiting the Shāh Chérāgh , you not only enjoying it’s beautiful architecture but you’ll get to know more about Shia religion and also you’ll get to know the culture of visiting holy shrines

Today we’ll visit Persepolis and Pasargadae (Tomb of Cyrus the Great). So our transport will be picking up us from our hotel early in the morning to transfer us to Persepolis and Pasargadae and also beautiful Isfahan. Persepolis is without a doubt is the pearl of the Persian empire. Today’s plan is to visit Persepolis and Naghsh-e Rustm. After having our breakfast, we will head it to the city of Marvdasht (44m drive) to first visit the Persepolis.In 518 BCE, a number of the most experienced engineers, architects, and artists have been called upon from the quadrilateral of the universe to engage and think through the first building that could symbolize global unity, peace and equality of the Persian empire. The construction of the Persepolis under the rule of Darius I , his son Xerxes I and his son , Artaxerxes I, continued, and each of them added some parts to the this monument, but in fact the construction of Persepolis continued 188 years before the fall of the Achaemenes dynasty (330 BCE) by Alexander the great. Persepolis consists of eight halls (palaces), Apadana Palace, Hadish Palace, Queen’s Palace, H Palace, Tachar (Tachra) Palace, Three Gates Palace, One Hundred Columns Palace and Shura Palace. Including to this, there are thousands of buildings and tombstones in the complex which all are in harmony to each other.

Naghsh-e Rustam is the name of an ancient collection located about 10 km (10m drive) from Persepolis. This ancient site is a group of rock relief cut into the cliff from Elamites, Achaemenes and Sassanians periods (from around 1200 BC to 625 AD). Just next to the Nagsh-e Rustam there is another monument called Ka’ba-ye Zartosht (meaning the “Cube of Zoroaster”). Ka’ba-ye Zartosht is a 5th-century B.C Achaemenes square tower. The structure is a copy of a sister building at Pasargadae, the “Prison of Solomon” (Zendān-e Solaymān). It was built either by Darius I (r. 521–486 BCE) when he moved to Persepolis, by Artaxerxes II (r. 404–358 BCE) or Artaxerxes III (r. 358–338 BCE). The building at Pasargadae is a few decades older. There in inscription in three languages from Sassanian time on the walls of this place, its considered as one of the most important inscription from Sassanid time. We continue our journey to Pasargadae (1h Drive) to visit Tomb of Cyrus the Great. Pasargadae is complex remained from Achaemenes dynasty and one Iran UNESCO world heritage sites. Cyrus the great started to build his capital in Pasargadae 546 BC but his capital unfinished due to his death in the battle in 530 or 529 BC. His tomb in Pasargadae is one the most monuments is Pasargadae and one of the most important Iran’s UNESCO world heritage sites. After visiting Pasargadae we’ll continue our journey to beautiful city of Isfahan (4h Drive)

We’ll start our day with amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Naghsh-e Jahan square (also known as Imam Square), in the middle of the Isfahan city. The main application of this square, which is mostly developed during Safavid era, was used to be for military parades which the king could parade his troops from the Ali Qapu balcony. The square itself is surrounded by old bazaar and some other structures like Ali Qapu palace, Sheikh lotfollah Mosque and Shah Mosque (also known as Imam Mosque). After entering Naghsh-e Jahan square we will visit old bazaar, Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and Shah Mosque one by one.

For the evening we’ll have a chance to visit Khaju Bridge on Zayanderud river(unfortunately, Zayanderud river is currently dried out because of recent dearth in the region) . Khaju Bridge is one of the historical bridges on the Zayanderud, the largest river of the Iranian Plateau, in Isfahan. The Khaju Bridge was built around 1650, under the reign of Abbas II, the seventh Safavid king (shah) of Iran, on the foundations of an older bridge. This bridge lit up during the night which gives an amazing view to this monument.

We start our day by visiting another UNESCO world heritage site of Chehel Sotoun palace (forty columns in Persian) which is only few meters away from the Naghsh-e Jahan square. Forty columns inspired from the reflection of twenty wooden columns of the entrance pavilion in the front pool which makes it look like forty columns. Chehel Sotoun is also one of the nine Iranian gardens registered collectively as a UNESCO world heritage site. For the evening we’ll visit Vank cathedral in Jolfa neighborhood. Jolfa neighborhood is a beautiful Armenian neighborhood first built during Shah Abbas the first (1588-1629) period and developed during Shah Abbas the second (1642-1666) period. Vank cathedral unlike other churches in this neighborhood has an Islamic-Christian architecture with an elaborate interior decoration.

We’ll depart to Tehran at 14:25 from Isfahan train station so you’ll have enough time during the day to visit carpet market and old bazaar of Isfahan

After having your breakfast in your hotel your local tour guide will pick you up from your hotel for a full day tour in Tehran. Early in the morning you will start your journey with UNESCO heritage site of Golestan Palace. History of this glamorous palace goes back to Shah Abbas (1588-1629) strongest ruler of Safavid dynasty. this complex is a mixture of Persian and European architecture especially French architecture. Golestan palace became the official royal palace when Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (1742-1797) moved its capital to Tehran in 1796. Golestan Palace consists of currently 13 available sites, Marble Throne, Karim Khani Nook, Pond House, Brilliant Hall, Containers Hall, Ivory Hall, Mirror Hall, Salam Hall, Building of wind catchers, Edifice of the Sun, Museums of Gifts, Abyaz palace and Photographic Archive. After visiting the Palace, we will go to Tehran’s old bazaar which is the center of traditional businesses in Tehran. Old bazaar is just only few meters away from the Golestan palace so we can go to the Bazaar by walk. Every section of the bazaar is for one specific business, so during your tour you will visit different businesses and different sections of old bazaar. after visiting the old bazaar you’ll be transferring to south west of Tehran to have a short visit to Azadi Tower. Azadi Tower (old name: Shahyad Tower) opened in January 14th 1972. This monument is a master piece of Mr. Hossein Amanat (currently living in Canada) which ordered by the last king of Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Shah. After visiting Azadi tower you’ll be transferring to northern part of the city to Darband Neighborhood in foothills of Tochal mountain. This neighborhood is the scape boat of Tehranians to escape from crowdedness and chaotic life of this metropolis. we’ll have our last dinner together in a one of the beautiful restaurants of Darband Neighborhood

Our representative will meet you in your hotel and he/she will arrange your transfer to Imam Khomeini Airport(IKA) according to your flight schedule